[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 146 (Thursday, September 19, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E929-E930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING THE REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER'S 200TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 2024

  Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 200th anniversary of 
The Republican newspaper in Springfield, Massachusetts.
  For 200 years, The Springfield Republican has been the standard for 
journalistic excellence in western Massachusetts and throughout the 
nation. Since its founding by the Bowles family in 1824, the paper has 
been in continuous circulation for two centuries--a feat that few 
publications can attest to.
  Over the course of my career in public life, I have had the privilege 
of working with publishers who navigated the paper through changes that 
have transformed how we receive the news. This includes the likes of 
David Starr, Larry McDermott, and most recently George Arwady. All have 
played a prominent role in the newspaper's success in an ever-changing 
world.
  I've also had the pleasure of working with exemplary editors, 
including Dick Garvey, Wayne Phaneuf, and Cynthia Simison. Now, Larry 
Parnass continues their legacy. Their commitment to journalistic 
integrity has upheld the newspaper's reputation as an outlet for 
reliable reporting. Chronicling the triumphs and challenges that have 
shaped our communities with sincerity and respect, they have made The 
Republican a generational household name.
  The paper's story started with two things: a flat-bottomed barge and 
a printing press. Samuel Bowles and his wife made their way up the 
Connecticut River and settled in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1824, 
Bowles founded The Republican, and the rest is history.
  From its founding, The Republican prided itself on being a paper that 
delivered accurate news, while never shying away from discussing 
controversial topics. Samuel Bowles III was quick to realign the 
newspaper with the newly formed Republican party and was a strong 
proponent of the anti-slavery movement. It was that commitment to 
adaptability and foresight that earned Bowles, and subsequently the 
Republican, the admiration of a national audience--including President 
Lincoln.
  On April 14, 1865, after a private meeting with The Springfield 
Republican's Washington correspondent George Ashmun, President Lincoln 
invited Ashmun to attend the theater with

[[Page E930]]

him and Mrs. Lincoln. Ashmun declined, and Lincoln subsequently wrote a 
note that read, ``Allow Mr. Ashmun and friend to come in at 9 A.M. 
tomorrow. A. Lincoln. April 14, 1865.''
  Later that evening, President Lincoln was assassinated. His note 
inviting Mr. Ashmun to the White House the following day would be 
Lincoln's last written words.
  I call attention to this because it speaks not only to The 
Republican's involvement in one of the most consequential moments in 
American history, but also to the paper's constant pursuit of informing 
its audience of stories throughout the nation and around the world. 
Over the course of its 200-year history, The Springfield Republican has 
reported on a Civil War, two world wars, and conflicts across the 
globe; national triumphs like putting the first man on the moon and the 
invention of the internet; landmark legislative achievements like 
giving women the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th 
Amendment, the genius of Mr. Roosevelt's Social Security Act, and 
Lyndon Johnson's Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 
1965; tragedies like the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln, 
Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy, and the terrorist attacks on September 
11, 2001. The Republican has been there through it all.
  And while The Republican was there for each and every one of these 
stories of national and international significance, they have continued 
to prioritize the reporting of local stories. Or, as they have coined 
it, ``bringing home the news.'' For the last 200 years, The Springfield 
Republican has documented the triumphs and tribulations of this region, 
one filled with a rich history unlike any other; one whose history 
played a fundamental role in the founding of our Nation and its basic 
principles, including freedom of the press.
  Whether it was covering visits by fifteen U.S. Presidents, Martin 
Luther King, Jr.'s speech at Springfield College, or foreign 
dignitaries visiting from around the world, The Springfield Republican 
was there.
  Whether it was the 40 world championships won by Boston's four major 
sports teams, the invention of basketball by James Naismith, Dr. J's 
career with UMass basketball, Springfield's own Tim Daggett and his 
gold medal victory at the 1984 Olympics, or the countless high school 
athletes who have achieved All-Western Massachusetts honors, The 
Springfield Republican was there.
  When we were ravaged by natural disasters, including the tornado in 
2011, The Springfield Republican was there.
  When we rebuilt our city and embarked on a renaissance that continues 
to take place right before our eyes, highlighted by the redevelopment 
of Springfield Union Station, the reinvigoration of our city's 
downtown, and transforming centuries-old buildings into state-of-the-
art housing, The Springfield Republican was there.
  In an ever-changing society, The Republican has endured a constantly 
transforming media market. In a time where social media dominates our 
nation's discourse, and misinformation and disinformation run rampant, 
we can continue to count on The Republican for their commitment to 
constant objectivity. On the occasion of their bicentennial, I am 
grateful for their unwavering loyalty to the people of this region.
  I think Dave Starr said it best in his column published on October 
24, 1999, when the newspaper celebrated its 175th anniversary. Dave 
wrote, ``Good newspapers like the Republican and the Union News live on 
because they offer a commodity that is worth the price. It's not just 
the news and the ads, the television listings and the sports pages, the 
comics and the crossword puzzles. They are important, but they are just 
part of what is in a good newspaper.''
  He continued, ``A good newspaper is the embodiment of a community's 
hopes and dreams, its yearnings and its aspirations. It is the voice of 
the public it serves. It is the mirror of its community. And equally 
important, it is the public's guardian against dark forces that would 
erode or even destroy the people's rights and freedoms.''
  As we celebrate The Republican's 200th anniversary, we thank all 
those who have played and continue to play a part in upholding the 
paper's mission of bringing home the news--news that embodies our 
community here in the Pioneer Valley and promotes the tenets of a free 
press.
  The Springfield Republican has been there, and they will continue to 
be there for generations to come. Congratulations from the United 
States of America.

                          ____________________